The original cast of Sesame Street

In this vintage photograph we see the original cast of Sesame Street which aired from 1969-1970. Most notable is Oscar the Grouch’s orange fur which would switch to the more recognizable green in the second season.

The character of Oscar was inspired by a nasty waiter from a restaurant called Oscar’s Tavern in Manhattan. While Jim Henson’s first Oscar sketches were colored purple, the original Oscar puppet was orange (Henson later said in an interview that this change was made because the early cameras weren’t good enough to capture the color right).

An early version of the green Oscar debuted on The Flip Wilson Show in 1970 and Oscar’s explanation for that was that he had vacationed at Swamp Mushy Muddy, where the dampness had turned him green overnight. In a 2003 appearance, Oscar stated that while his time in Swamp Mushy Muddy made him appear green, he is still in fact orange underneath all the slime and mold. (With an exception, he’s just never taken a bath). [Source]

The series has now produced over 4,300 episodes. The original has been televised in 120 countries, and more than 20 international versions have been produced. By its 40th anniversary in 2009, Sesame Street had won 8 Grammy Awards and 143 Emmy Awards—more than any other children’s show in history. [Sources 1, 2]